McLean Mill National Historic Site in Port Alberni has been transformed into a movie set for a pair of major motion pictures.
The site has been closed to the public for the last few weeks as the thriller movie One Mile and its sequel One More Mile are being filmed on site. From Aaron Kaplan’s Kapital Entertainment, the films follow an estranged father (played by Ryan Phillippe) and his daughter (played by Amélie Hoeferle) who go off for college tours and get more than they bargained for when they get lost and stumble across a hostile, off-the-grid community.
Producer Michael Lohmann says he discovered the McLean Mill site through location scouts and was "blown away" by the setting.
"We looked at a few sites in Vancouver but couldn't find anything," he said. "There's nothing else [like McLean Mill] we could find anywhere. It's unbelievably cinematic — we could never build this on set."
The films are directed by Adam Davidson and are intended for a theatrical release from Paramount Global’s label Republic Pictures, although Lohmann doesn't have a release date yet.
Port Alberni hasn't been featured on the big screen as often as its Vancouver Island neighbours, like Ucluelet and Tofino. Recently, a Punjabi-language movie was filmed at McLean Mill and a Toyota television commercial was filmed on Port Alberni's railway tracks. But otherwise, the last feature film Port Alberni hosted was the crime thriller Insomnia in the early 2000s.
Lohmann suggests part of the reason for this is Port Alberni's "remote" location. But the region's picturesque set opportunities — such as McLean Mill — more than make up for the location, he added.
"The whole town has been unbelievably welcoming," he said.
Lohmann says filming of One Mile and One More Mile is expected to contribute approximately $4 million to the economy on Vancouver Island, about $2-3 million of which will stay locally in Port Alberni.
"Also the tourism that comes after a movie is massive," he said. "It's a major economic driver that brings in so many visitors to the area."
He hopes that other filmmakers will follow, once they see what Port Alberni has to offer.
Production for both movies started Sept. 9 and is scheduled to wrap up in November. Filming has taken place in Victoria, as well as Parksville and Qualicum Beach. McLean Mill is expected to remain closed to the public until the end of October.
"We are thrilled to support the creative industries in our region," McLean Mill National Historic Site posted on social media in early September. "Hosting a film shoot at the mill brings significant exposure and benefits to our community. As a designated film location, the site requires privacy to ensure the safety and integrity of the production process. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this time."
